Single Disc M9s

[Russ Smiley]

Besides Barenboim/Warner and Gielen/Saphir, what are some other M9s on a single disk?

Any preferenences? and why?

[John Kim]

My best single disc M9th is Svetlanov/het Residente Orkest. I think it can still be ordered from Europe with a little bit of luck.

Abbado/BPO/DG has been wildly praised, although I have some issues with the sound.

Kubelik/BRSO/Audite or DG is also a good choice.

Considering the availability, Barenboim is probably the bets bet for now.

John,

[Jeff Wozniak]

I've always love Bernstein's Sony/Columbia M9.  Probably my favorite recording of the 9th.  You can probably get the single CD on line somewhere for about $10 new, probably cheaper used.  It's available as part of a 3 disc hybrid SACD set coupled with the 6th symphony as well for alot more money, but the improvement in sound of both symphonies is worth it to me.

I really like Abbado's DG 9th as well.   

One that seems to be overlooked quite often is Ancerl's single disc 9th.  This is a real keeper in my book.

[Russ Smiley]

Thank you, Jeff, for he suggestions.  I'm listening to samples of the Bernstein/NYPO M9 at Amazon right now: there are so many tracks that I feel as though I'm getting to hear nearly the whole thing.  The Ancerl looks intriguing, too.

[mike bosworth]

Besides Barenboim/Warner and Gielen/Saphir, what are some other M9s on a single disk?

Barbirolli and Haitink both fit on a single disk.

Mike Bosworth
Hanoi

[John Kim]

Szell's live concert with CVLO (from the early 1969) is also pretty good on a single disc.

John,

[john haueisen]

I agree with John that the Barenboim is probably the best choice of those mentioned.
I know of several other M9 single discs, some off the beaten path.
Boulez: Chicago
Neumann: Leipzig Geandhaus
Masur: NYPhil
Lopez-Cobos: Cincinnati
and even a Bruno Walter with the VPO
Hey, all this variety keeps it interesting!

[John Kim]

I agree with John that the Barenboim is probably the best choice of those mentioned.
I know of several other M9 single discs, some off the beaten path.
Boulez: Chicago
Neumann: Leipzig Geandhaus
Masur: NYPhil
Lopez-Cobos: Cincinnati
and even a Bruno Walter with the VPO
Hey, all this variety keeps it interesting!

John,

The Lopez-Cobos is not on a single disc. It can't fit into a sigle disc.

John,

[Russ Smiley]

John,

I own the Barenboim and Lopez-Cobos recordings: the latter is a 'tidy' but well played performance (and on 2 discs).

Though I'm an amateur orchestral horn player, I think the Staatskapelle Berlin's horns sometimes are too prominent.  Same goes for other instruments at other points.  I attribute that to the level being adjusted 'on the fly'.  I'm listening to the the first movement right now, and a perfect example of the effect just appeared.  Between 6:40 and 6:50 (Rehearsal 7 in the score), the loudness and detail of the stopped horns changes markedly.  Maybe its just a matter of someone pointing more toward a mic, but I think not.  Similarly, the oboe's last, held note, marked pp in the score, just buries the harp and horns.  Effects like this irritate me.

Russ

[John Kim]

John,

I own the Barenboim and Lopez-Cobos recordings: the latter is a 'tidy' but well played performance (and on 2 discs).

Though I'm an amateur orchestral horn player, I think the Staatskapelle Berlin's horns sometimes are too prominent.  Same goes for other instruments at other points.  I attribute that to the level being adjusted 'on the fly'.  I'm listening to the the first movement right now, and a perfect example of the effect just appeared.  Between 6:40 and 6:50 (Rehearsal 7 in the score), the loudness and detail of the stopped horns changes markedly.  Maybe its just a matter of someone pointing more toward a mic, but I think not.  Similarly, the oboe's last, held note, marked pp in the score, just buries the harp and horns.  Effects like this irritate me.

Russ

Russ,

I had already pointed out these issues with the Barenboim but thank you for brining them out.

The horns are not that loud most of time but at that particular spot they are unusually and mistakenly prominent. Also, the oboe at the end is simply outrageous. It is definitely a mistake that should have been corrected. But overall it's a superb recording.

John,

[Dave H]

The two best single-disc Mahler 9ths are Ancerl and Masur. I don't think anyone else really comes close, including Barenboim.

Dave H

[Russ Smiley]

Dave,

I don't know the Masur or Ancerl yet.

What is your opinion of the Gielen M9 on Saphir?  Though the timing of the Adagio nearly equals Boulez's, which I disliked, I found Gielen's very satisfactory.

Russ Smiley

[John Kim]

Dave,

I don't know the Masur or Ancerl yet.

What is your opinion of the Gielen M9 on Saphir?  Though the timing of the Adagio nearly equals Boulez's, which I disliked, I found Gielen's very satisfactory.

Russ Smiley

Saphir?? Never heard of the label....but I know Gielen recorded it twice on for Interchord and the second for Hansseler. Neither one is my top favorite, but they aren't bad either. The latter one was praised by DH but I have issues with the sound and playing which goes occasionally too stiff (no to mention mistakes, e.g. second climax in I.). To me the best single disc M9ths are Svetlanov/het Residente Orkest, Kubelik/BRSO/DG, Barenboim/SB/Warner, and possibly the Ancerl.

John,

[Russ Smiley]

Sorry, I didn't look closely enough.  Indeed, "Saphir by Intercord" appears on the cover.  Disc number is INT 830.881.  Recorded in April and August 1990.

[John Kim]

How about Gunther Herbig/Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Saarbrucken/Berlin Classics M9th (on a single disc)?

It's pretty darn good, as good as his M6th.

John,